Nissan Navara Diesel Problems

We have a few reports of this vibration from readers, so we've asked Nissan for an update on what they're doing to fix it.

It's not necessarily a problem that might require an engine rebuild to fix. When diesels blow a lot of smoke, it's usually because they're getting too much fuel. Take it to a diesel mechanic and have him check it before you go to the extreme of rebuilding the engine.

The diesel mechanics are correct, there was/are problems with the injectors in the Navara. One dealer told us to stop blaming Nissan as all brands use the same injectors and they too have the problem. But that head-in-the-sand approach doesn't help the poor customer who has shelled out to buy a car with a known problem, and it doesn't help that you now have to shell out even more money to fix it. It helps that you reported the problem when the car was still under warranty, so I would go back to Nissan and give them the full history of your car and press them for some assistance with the cost of repairs. You could also try consumer affairs.

Damage could be sustained if the engine was laboring as it appears to be, when is anybody's guess one actually lets go. I would think that Nissan has got its calibration wrong and needs to adjust it so the transmission shifts down and the engine is not under undue stress.

Injector wear is a problem with all common-rail diesels, not just the Nissan. You should be able observe rough running, perhaps black smoke from the exhaust, and high fuel consumption. The chip won't be causing your ticking noise; that will be a mechanical noise. You need to determine where the noise is coming from to be able to locate the cause. One thing I would be looking at the camshaft timing chain, they wear and sometimes break on the Navara, and that's one possible source of your ticking noise.

Tell the dealer of your concerns when you take it in for servicing and ask that they do a full diagnostic check on the car. Don't accept their view that it's still running in, that's a way of fobbing you off. It's possible you have a faulty sensor that's throwing the fuel economy out.

Worn injectors are quite common on most of today's diesel engines, whatever the make of the vehicle. That Nissan has already replaced some injectors under warranty on your vehicle, and has offered to pay half for the second set, suggests there is an issue. I would suggest you talk to a diesel mechanic who could give you more detailed information about the issue.

I suspect you could be correct. I would certainly get the injectors checked.

Fuel-injector problems are not confined to Nissan, all brands use much the same injectors and all suffer problems. I reckon you're going to struggle to get any sympathy from Nissan on this one, the vehicle is out of warranty, and you have followed your own service schedule, which at 10,000km intervals suggests you have serviced it every year instead of six months as per Nissan's recommendation. If you feel particularly aggrieved you could contact Nissan directly and express your concerns.

I'd be looking at the injectors, particularly as the noise was there when the engine was cold. Worn injectors are a common issue with today's diesels.